Folding armchair



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y@ @WMM n ATTORNEYA SeP- 27, 1932- w. c. RAsTETTr-:R 1,879,487

FOLDING ARMCHAIR Filed March 6, 19150 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 III/26 mm/EMM.

1 ATTORIVEYA Sept. '27g y1932.. w. Q RASTETTER 1,879,487

*Y FOLDING ARMGHAIR Filed March 6, 1930 5 Sheets-Shea"v 3 INVENTOR.

BY MM ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 WILLIAM CHARLES RASTETTER, F FORT WAYNE, INDIANA FOLDING ARMCHAIR Application filed `March 6,

This invention relates to improvements in folding arm chairs, and the object thereof is to afford a chair provided with arm-rests that may be folded up into compact space, and in which all of the connections between the several collapsible parts of the structure operate upon pivotal connections. Another object is to provide a collapsible chair with its collapsible parts united pivotally by means so constituted as to obviate that tendency of the connections between the parts becoming loose which frequently occurs in folding chair structures.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown by the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation in section of a `chair in which the invention is embodied,

the chair being in extended position;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation projected from Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the chair in folded position; and F Fig. 4 is a side elevation projected from *ign 3.

The chair shown in the drawings consists of a back-frame 1 provided with a cross-piece 9., spaced from its top and bottom, and a back-rest 3 that is secured at its ends respectively to the cross-piece and the top of the frame 1.

A seat-frame 4 provided with curved brackets 5 at its rear end is pivoted to the back-frame 1, as indicated at 6, said brackets extending on the inner facesI of the seat and back-fra1ne and being so disposed that the seat-frame when folded extends in front of the back-frame 1 in a plane parallel therewith. The back-frame 1 and the seat-frame 4 are preferably each made of a single strip of material bent into the form of the letter U, and the seat-frame 4 has secured therein a seat 7 made of any suitable material.

In Letters Patent No, 1,693,349 issued to me November 27, 1928 for a folding chair, a structure is shown wherein a pair of rear legs are pivotally related with the seatframe by means of a transverse rod that extends through the legs and frame. In the present instance7 the seat-frarne 4 is pivotally 1930. Serial No. 433,634.

Vrelated with a pair of forelegs 8 and a pair of rear legs 9 by means of a transverse rod 10. 'However, 1n this instance, the forelegs and rear legs are arranged with respect to the seat-frame 4 and rodlO in such inanner that the rear legs 9, when the chair is folded, extend in the plane of the seat-frame between the sides thereof, while the forelegs. also extend in the plane of the seat but v exteriorly of said frame. Y The rear legs 9 are providedwith a brace consisting of cross-arms 11 which are riveted vtogether at their intersection, the lower ends in proper spaced relation upon the seat rod l and with respect to the seat frame by means of a. series of tubes 12-13 placed upon said rod, the tube'12 being disposed between the brace-arms 11, and the tubes 13 being disposed between the legs 9 and the inner faces of the corresponding sides of the frame, so that the rear legs 9 are held definitely spaced from each other and from thesides of the seat frame. Also, upon the seat rod 10 between each foreleg 8 and the corresponding side of the seat frame 4 is disposed a thimble 14 whereby the forelegs are held spaced apart a suitable distance from the seat frame. The forelegs 8 have secured thereto a brace-frame 15 by means of which they are secured a delinite distance apart. Each foreleg 8 has a portion that extends upwardly beyond the seat rod that constitutes a support 16 for an arm-rest 17 the rear end of which is pivotally connected to the corresponding side of the back-frame 1 upon the exterior thereof, the pivotal connection being indicated by 18. The support 16 is hingedly connected at its top by means of a hinge bracket 19 that is secured to the underside of the arm-rest 17. d

The arrangement of the arm-rests 17 with respect to the foreleg structure, the back frame 1 and the seat frame 4, is such that when the chair is folded, the arm rests extend vin the plane of the back frame 1 upon lthe exterior thereof, and the foreleg structure extends in a plane parallel with that of the arm-rests and back-frame and upon the exterior of the seat-frame.

In my former patent above referred to, the lower ends of the side members of the backrest have secured therein a cross-rod that is connected with the rear leg structure by means of links and also with the foreleg structure by another pair of links, which links are held spaced apart on said rod by a series of tubes, all of which links are pivoted upon the rod at points between the side members of the back-rest. In the present instance, the lower ends of the side members 1 of the backframe have secured thereto a cross member consisting of a rod 2O having thereon a series of tubes 2l--22, which rod is connected with the rear leg structure by means of a pair of links 23, the rod 20 extending through one end of each link, while the opposite end of 'which link is pivoted to the corresponding leg 9 upon the inner face thereof, as indicated by 24, said links being held definitely spaced apart upon the rod by said series of tubes.

The ends of the rod 20 each extend beyond the outer face of the corresponding side member 1 of the back-frame and is connected with the corresponding foreleg 8 by means of a link 25, one end of which link is pivoted upon the rod 20 exteriorly with respect to the corresponding side member 1, and the opposite end of which link is pivoted to the correspondin g foreleg 8 upon the inner face thereof, as indicated by 26. The cross member has bearing contact with thel rear faces of the rear legs when the chair is unfolded and the spreading of the fore and rear legs linked thereto is thereby definitely limited. The links 2'3 areso disposed With respect to the cross member and the'rear leg structure as to extend between the rear legs 9, while the links 25 lare so arranged with respect to the rod 20,

. the back-frame l and the forelegs 8 as to extend between the forelegs 8 and the adjacent outer side of the back-frame.

When the chair is folded the seat and the rear and fore legs extend in a plane parallel with that of the back, the rear legs being disposed between tlie sides of the seat and the forelegs being disposed exteriorly with respect to the seat, and the arm-rests extend in a common plane with the back exteriorly with respect thereto. With the parts thus arranged, when the chair is folded, the structure presents a compact body which facilitates storage and portability.

Claim:

A folding chair including a back having side frame members, a seat having a. frame, upwardly curved brackets pivotally connecting the seat-frame with said members, a seatrod extending through the seat frame, fore legs pivoted on said rod exteriorly with respect to said seat-frame, each having an upwardly projecting extension, rear legs pivoted o n said rod at points thereon between the sides of said seat-frame, a cross member in the lower end of the back frame members engageable with said rear legs to limit movement thereof, links connecting said cross member respectively with said fore and rear legs, arm-rests pivotedly connected with said back frame members, and pendant brackets on said arm-rests pivotedly connected respectively with said extensions, said back, fore legs, rear legs, and arm-rests being so disposed that when the chair is folded, the back and arm rests lie in a common plane while the fore and rear legs and the seat lie in another common plane parallel therewith.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM CHARLES RASTETTER. 

